Page 137 of The Substitute
A picture pops up from Ambrose. He’s holding his jersey up, exposing his abs and the front of his hockey pants. Damn, that’s sexier than I expected. Who knew hockey players were hot in their gear?
Tobi: JFC
Ambrose: You’re so easy.
Ambrose: Now your turn.
My face heats a little at the idea of pulling up my shirt to take a picture with all these people in here. I would feel like an idiot trying to be sexy.
Tobi: There’s people in here!
Ambrose: Are you blushing for me?
And my face burns even hotter. The jerk.
Tobi: Obviously.
Ambrose: I need to see.
Fighting the embarrassment, I open my camera and mess with positions and angles until I find one that shows one cheek red as fuck and my sleeve-covered hand hiding the other side of my face.
Ambrose: Fuck. I’m going to be hard the whole game.
I laugh, and it’s mostly fueled by embarrassment.
Tobi: Why’s that?
Ambrose: There is just something about your innocent shy expression that makes me want to dirty you up.
I’m halfway through typing my reply when he sends another one.
Ambrose: Okay, I gotta go. I’ll try to check in during the break.
Tobi: Good luck!
With a sigh, I shove my phone into my hoodie pocket and look around. The stands are filling up quickly now, and it looks like the Griffins are on the ice, warming up.
What the hell am I supposed to do for the entire game? I don’t actually know the rules or what is happening. I’ve spent a large chunk of my life deliberately avoiding learning anything about hockey. That may have just come back to bite me in the ass.
Could I text Rhys hockey questions, or would he mercilessly make fun of me for it?
Eh, better not to risk it. I think he has a game today anyway. I do a quick check, and he did, but it’s wrapped up now. Since they’re only a few hours away, he’ll be home soon. Which means Savage will too.
I haven’t talked to him since our fight, though he keeps texting. Nothing pushy, but he checks in, and I like it. But it’s killing me to see his name and face pop up on my phone.I don’t know how to respond, and every time I pick up my phone to try, I replay finding out all over again.
I’m still angry, but I’m more hurt at this point. He lied to me. For months.
Over something stupid.
Hockey.
Fucking hockey.
I’m mad at myself, too. How did I miss it? He fucking plays on Rhys’ team! How did I not know? Have I really put up so many walls around hockey that I didn’t notice when he and Rhys were out of town at the same time, especially over winter break when Rhys was living at my parents’ house with me? I guess I spent so much of the past few months avoiding Rhys, I blocked out what he was doing.
But how did I not notice the bruises, the practice schedule, game schedule? How did I not question any of it? I guess splitting my time between the two of them, one of them was around most of the time, so I didn’t question it that much. I don’t know how he handled hockey, school, interviews, and me,frankly. I felt like I was buried in work just trying to balance school and them.
I’m so fucking gullible.
